Cranes



March 14, 1961 K. MACRANDERV CRANES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1957 IN VENTOR X2@ foei/vaez ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 K. MAcRANDl-:R

CRANES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March ll, 1957 INVENTOR a WoW/vae@ ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 K. MAcRANDl-:R

CRANES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Filed March 1l, 1957 INVENTOR /ez MCP/woe@ ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 K. MACRANDER CRANES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March ll, 1957 ATTORNEY` States cRANEs med Mar; 11, 1957, ser. No. 645,043

s claims. (cl. 104-2) This invention relates 'to cranes and more particularly to cranes especially adapted for use in the construction of elevated monobeam railways which comprise heavy track beam sections usually of reinforced concrete construction, the opposite ends of the beam sections being disposed on the tops of pylons.

In the past the erection of such trackways has posed numerous ditricult problems because of the weight of the weight of the track sections involved, the elevation above ground level and the fact that the track ways are disposed along stretches of uneven and often mountainous terrain. Because of this latter factor it is diiiicult to transport the prefabricated sections directly to the site by trucks and to erect cranes or hoists of the necessary lifting capacity to raise the heavy sections from the tracks onto the tops ofthe pylons. It has also proved impractical to lift the track sections by hoists installed on the previously erected portion of the track since the track sections are usually not able to absorb the heavy bending and torsional moments created by the lifting operation.

These ditculties are further increased by the fact that in curved track sections the beams are tilted about a horizontal axis. Conventional cranes or hoists used on the previously erected sections of curved track produced excessive torsional moments on vthe track which the tracks are not designed to resist.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a primary purpose and object of the present invention to provide improved cranes which eliminate the above-stated disadvantages of prior apparatus, winch materially reduce the time and expense necessary to erect elevated track sections, and which do not impose excessive or undesirable loads on the previously constructed track section.

This primary object and others is achieved by the present invention by the provision of novel cranes adapted to travel along and be supported by the previously erected track sections and having a jib or boom extending over the space to be occupied by the track section to be next erected. The novel construction of the cranes of the present invention is such that the upper or lifting portion including the jib is mounted for tilting movement with respect to the lower section which Iis firmly anchored to the existing track structure. By virtue of this construction the cranes of the present invention are uniquely eifectiveto erect curved and tilted sections of the track. When the hoists are so used the upper portion is tilted to the extent required to minimize or eliminate entirely the torsional moments exerted on the existing track structure by `previous conventional cranes.

It is, accordingly,v afurther object of the invention to provide novel crane constructions comprising two main sections, one of which is adapted to be securely anchored to an appropriate supporting base and the upper or lifting section of which is adapted to be tilted as desired to the extent dictated by the Vrequirements of the particular lifting operation to be performed. r

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent 2,974,606 Patented Mar. 14, 19161 as the description proceeds in connection with the accompaying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cranes of the present invention in operating position supported by the partially erected track resting on pylons, only the upper portions of which are shown;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing details of the pivotal connection between the upper and lower crane sections;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4-4 Y of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line'S-S of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged central section ofv a portion of the adjusting mechanism for regulating the inclination of the upper crane section;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 2 illustrating the pivotal connection between the upper crane structure `and the jib or boom;

Figure 8 is a front view of the structure for supporting the free end of the jib :in Working position;

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the support structure in elevated position to permit movement of the crane along the trackway;

Figure l0 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a device for clamping the rear truck of the crane to the track beam;

Figure ll `is an end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a modied structure for pivotally connecting the upper and lower crane sections;

Figure 13 is ya similar view of a further modification of the invention; and

Figure 14 is a semi-diagrammatic transverse section showing the crane supported on the elevated track in a j curved inclined track section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the cranes of the present invention are particularly adapted for use with a monobeam track of the type indicated generally at 20, rectanguglar section and have a horizontal top running surface 22 and opposite vertical running surfaces 24 and 26.A The beam 20 is preferably of reinforced concrete construction and is prefabricated in sections of length corresponding approximately to the distance between two adjacent pylons, the upper portions of which are indicated generally at 27.

In the portion of the track illustrated in Figure l the p prefabricated beam sections 28 and 30 have been installed on the tops of the Vpylons 32 and 34 `and the beam section 36 is being installed on the tops of the pylons 34 and 38.

The crane includes two trucks indicated generally at 40. and 42 which are adapted to ride along the erected portion of the trackway and which tiltably support the upper crane structure indicated generally at 44. The distance between the 'trucks 40 and 42 should be at least half the distance between adjacent pylons andl is preferably substantially greater than this minimum value as indicated in Figure l. Secured to the upper end of the crane structure for horizontal swinging movement is a jib as-V sembly indicated generally at 46 which is supported on the tops of the pylons 34 and 38 by stay assemblies indicated generally at '48 and v50. A similar stay assembly Sil is preferably used to support the rearward end of the main crane section 44.

The upper crane vstructure 44 and the jib 46 are adapted to carry a longitudinally movable crab 52 provided with two hoisting blocks 54 and 56.

The truck 40 which is of essentially the same conthe track sections of which are of generally struction as the truck 42 will now be described in detail with particular reference to Figures 3 through 5.

The frame of the truck is of Welded construction and includes two longitudinal box-shaped beams 58 and 60, the opposite upturned ends of 'which rotatably support pairs of rubber tired load carrying wheels 62 and 64 adapted to ride along the upper surface 22 of the track beam. The beams S and 60 are secured together by upper and lower metal sheets 65 and 66 reinforced by web members 67. Lightening holes 69 are preferably provided in the sheets 65 and 66. Welded to the outer surface of the beams 58 and 60 just inwardly of the sheets 62 and 64 `are downwardly projecting housings 68 which are preferably sheet metal stampings of U-shaped cross section. At their ylower ends the housings 68 rotatably support upper side wheels 70 adapted to ride along the side surfaces of the pre-erected track beams. Similar downwardly projecting housings 72 are also welded to the beams 5S and 60 adjacent the midpoints of the latter and at their lower ends carry lateral wheels 74 adapted to engage the side surfaces of the track beam at the lower edge thereof. Thus each truck includes two pairs of load carrying wheels 62 and 64 and three lateral support wheels engaging each side of the track beam. This construction is effective to permit guided movement of the crane structure-along the pre-constructed beams to the construction site and to provide firm support for the crane during the lifting operation.

Secured to the upper metal sheet 65 centrally thereof is a socket member 76 which has a spherical surface 78 in which the mating spherical surface of an intermediate member 80 fits. The socket 76 and the member 80 are secured together for relative pivotal movement by a pivot pin 82 which extends through central openings 84 and 85, respectively, in the ball and socket members. The opening `84 in the member 80 is larger than the diameter of the pin 82, the upper end of which also extends through a bearing plate 86 having a spherical lower surface resting against tbe inner spherical surface of the inter-mediate member 80. The parts are held in assembled relation by a nut 88.

Rigidly secured to the member 80, for example, by welding is a cross member 90, the opposite ends of which are located above the beams 58 and 60. Arcuate wear plates 92 and 94 are secured, respectively, to the underside of the sheet and the upper surface of the beams 58 and 60 to limit lateral tilting movement at the ball and socket joint while permitting horizontal swivelling movement as the trucks are moved over curved sections of the track. Suitably secured by screws to a vertical sheet member 98 welded to the upper surface of the member 90 is a race member 102. The member 102 is provided with upper and lower arcuate races 101 and 103 which cooperate with races 104 and 105 formed in a second ball race segment 106 to support upper and lower sets of ball bearings 107. The upper race segment 106 is held in position by a retainer strip 108 suitably secured to the upper surface of the sheet 90. The curvature of the races 101 and 103 determines the tilting axis of the upper crane structure. Preferably the curvature of the races is such that the tilting axis is located between the longitudinal axis of the track beam and the lower surface of the beam. While if desired, the tilting axis may be below the lower surface of the track beam and should not be above the central axis of the beam.

As best shown in Figure 4 longitudinally extending beams 109 and 110 of the upper crane structure 44 are rigidly secured to the upper surface of the ball race member 106. The beam sections 109 and 110 are preferably of welded construction and each comprises upper and lower plates -112 and 114 connected by vertical webs 116. It will be noted that the space between the beams 109 and 110 is entirely unobstructed.

The upper crane structurev44 including the race memi ber 106 and the `beams 109 and 110 may be tilted to any desired degree with respect to the supporting trucks by mechanisms indicated generally at 118 shown inV detail in Figure 6 to which reference will now be made. This adjustment assembly comprises a housing 120 which, with a cover plate 122, forms an enclosed space in which a worm wheel 124 is mounted on suitable bearings 126. The worm wheel 124 is in engagement with a worm 128 mounted on the shaft of a motor secured by any suitable means to the ange 132 of the housing 120. The worm wheel 124 is provided with a central threaded aperture threaded onto a screw spindle 134, the end of which is provided with la boss 136. The inner end of the screw spindle 134 is provided with a squared opening which slidably ts over a squared shank of a member 138 non-rotatably secured in the housing 120. Thus, when the motor 130 is operated, the screw spindle 134 is moved into or out of the housing 120 to increase or decrease the distance between the boss 136 and a boss 142 formed on the opposite end of the housing 120. The assembly is completed by a flexible cover 144 which prevents the entry of foreign matter and moisture into the interior of the actuating assembly.

As best shown in Figure 4 the boss 136 of the screw spindle 134 is pivotally secured to a bracket 146 secured to the under surface of the beam 109, while the boss 142 is pivotally secured to a bracket 148 rigidly secured to the upper surface of the plate 90 above the beam 60. Thus, by operation of the actuator assembly 118 in the appropriate direction, the upper crane structure 44 may be tilted in either direction about the predetermined tilting axis so that the upper crane structure may be maintained in an essentially vertical position as the crane moves over tilted track sections as shown in Figure 14.

Referring again to Figures l and 2 the jib assembly includes two longitudinally extending beams and 152 which are of essentially the same construction as the beams 109 and 110 of the upper crane structure. The respective beams 109 and 150 and 110 and 152 are secured together by identical pivot constructions one of which is shown in Figure 7. This pivot construction includes mating bearing members 154 and 156 welded to the respective top and side plates of the beam sections and connected by a pivot pin 158. The outer or free ends of the beam sections 150 and 152 are connected by a link 159, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to the ends of the beam sections.

In working position the jib 46 is supported by identical support stay assemblies 48 and 50 supported, respectively, on the upper surfaces of the pylons 34 and 38. As best shown in Figure 8 the stay assemblies include a notched transverse beam adapted to rest on the top of the adjacent pylon. The beam 160 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to vertical members 162 and 164 into the upper ends of each of which spindles 166 are screwed. The tops of the spindles 166 are provided with squared heads 168 provided with cylindrical projections 170 adapted to t into corresponding recesses in the bottom surfaces of the beams 150 and 152 of the jib 46. Lifting cables 172 are wound on power actuated drums 173 positioned in the upper edges of the beams 150 and I152 and extend downwardly over rollers 174 and at their free ends are attached to the upper surfaces of the respective stay members 162 and 164. By virtue of this construction the stay assemblies may be elevated to a position shown in Figure 9 to permit the crane to be transported along the pre-constructed sections of the track. It will be noted that because of the pivotal connection of the two side members 162 and 164 with the bottom support member 160, the stay assemblies function in their intended manner despite tilting of the upper crane structure 44.

The movable crab 52, includes front and rear support wheels sets 175 and 176 adapted to ride along upper surfaces of the beam 109 and 110 and '150 and 152. Preferably the crab is provided with an operators cab 177 having suitable operating controls including controls for driving one or both of the wheel sets 176 by conventional means not shown. The hoisting blocks 54 and 56 are preferably secured to the crab 52 between the respective wheels 175 and 176 as shown in Figure 1. The two hoisting blocks 54 and the two hoisting blocks 56 are preferably positioned just inwardly of the inner surfaces of the beams 109 and 1110 and 150 and 152. Each of the hoisting blocks 54 and the hoisting blocks 56 carry cross beams 178 which engage the undersurfa'ce of the beam section 36.

- 'I'he prefabricated track beam sections are transported to the construction site along the previously constructed portion of the beam by trucks 183 which per se do not form a part of the present invention. The trucks include a load-carrying frame assembly 184 supported for passage along the trackway by load-carrying wheels 185 and upper and lower side guide wheels 186.

Usually a beam section is carried by two such trucks, only the forward truck being shown in Figure 1. T'he beam section is initially brought to the position indicated at 36 in Figure 1 to dispose the forward end of the beam between the adjacent ends of the beamsr109 and 110. The crab 52 is then moved rearwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and the forward end of the beam 36 is lifted by the rear set of hoisting blocks 54. The crab 52 is then run forwardly until the rear transport truck not shown reaches a position adjacent the front truck. The forward end of the beam is then lowered slightly until it rests on the member 106 and the crab 52 is moved rearwardly again to the position shown in dotted lines in Figures 1. Both sets of hoisting blocks 54 and 56 are then brought into operation to lift the beam section 36. The crab is then moved forwardly with the beam section 36 carried in elevated position between the beams 109 and 110 and 150 and 152 of the crane structure until it is brought to the desired longitudinal position. Thereafter the beam is lowered onto the top of the pylons, and the hoists 54 and 56 are disengaged.

For certain applications it is desirable to construct a jib assembly as a cantilever and to omit the support stay assembly 50 to reduce the total length of the crane. The use of a counterweight of the usual type in this case would unduly increase the weight of the crane. Accordingly a special clamping device 191 is provided to clamp the rearward end of the crane to the pre-erected beam section 30. This clamping device is shown semidiagrammatically in Figures and 11 to which detailed reference will now be made.

The clamping assembly comprises a pair of identical clamps secured to the opposite sides of the rear truck 40, only one of the clamp sections being shown in Figures 10 and 11. Each of these identical clamp assemblies includes a cross beam 192 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the downwardly projecting housing 72. An axle 194 extends through the beam assembly 192 and is rotatably mounted in bushings '193 and 195 mounted in the opposite ends of the beam assembly 192. Non-rotatably secured to the projecting ends of the axle 194 are the clamp members 196. The clamps maybe advanced or retracted as desired by an actuating assembly which includes a lever 197 non-rotatably secured to the axle 194 at its mid point and pivotally secured at its opposite end to one lever 198 of a toggle assembly. The other member 199 of the toggle assembly is pivotally secured to the housing 72. A rod 200 actuated by a suitable mechanism not shown is provided to operate the toggle assembly 198, 199 to bring the clamps into the working position as shown in Figure 11 or for releasing the clamps to permit the crane to be transported along the track.

A modified form of construction for tiltably mounting the upper crane structure 44 on the trucks 40 and 42 is shown in Figure 12. In this form of the invention kthe ball race segments are replaced by a segment 202 welded to the cross member 90. The segment202 has a rear guide surface 204 in which rollers 206 and 208 run. The rollers 206 and 208 are rotatably mounted in brackets 210 projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the main cross beam 211 to which the beam sections 109 and 110 are secured. The actuating mechanism 118 is installed in this form of the invention in the same manner as that previously described.

A further embodiment of the mechanism for tiltably supporting the upper crane structure from the trucks 40 and 472 is shown in Figure 13. In this Iform ofthe invention links 212 and 214 are substituted for the ball bearings or rollers previously described. The ends of the links 212 and 214 arepivotally connected respectively to the cross member Y and to brackets 215 rigid with the cross member 216 which supports the beam sections 109 and 110. In this form of the invention one end of the actuating mechanism 1118 is pivotally secured to a boss 217 formed intermediate the ends of the link 212 and the opposite end of the actuating mechanism is .pivotally secured to a bracket 218 rigid with the upper surface of the plate 90. The operation of the modified forms of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13 is essentially the same as the preferred form of the apparatus disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 described above. In each case the mechanism effectively maintains the upper carriage structure in an essentially vertical position as the trucks 40 and 42 ride over tilted track sections.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A crane for use in positioning Prefabricated track beam sections -on the tops of spaced pylons to form an extension of an existing elevated trackway, said trackway having top and side surfaces comprising, at least two trucks constructed to ride on sa-id trackway, said trucks having a rigid frame assembly, load carry' g wheels and side guide wheels mounted on said frame 'assembly and constructed to ride along said topi and side surfaces of said beam, respectively, an intermediate support assembly, means mounting said intermediate support assembly on said frame assembly for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, an upper crane assembly, a crab for lifting and carrying said Prefabricated track beam sections,

i means mounting said crab on said upper crane assembly for movement therealong, means supporting said upper crane assembly on said intermediate support assembly for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of Ithe track beam, and means operatively connected to said upper crane assembly and said intermediate support assembly for moving said upper crane assembly about its tilting axis.

2. The crane according to claim 1 wherein said means v for connecting said upper crane assembly and said intermediate suppoit assembly includes a pair of ball race members extending transversely of said trackway and secured respectively to said intermediate support assembly and said upper crane assembly, said ball race members having mating arcuate races, and a plurality of balls in the races of said members.

3. The crane yaccording to claim l wherein said means for connecting said upper crane assembly to said inter-` mediate support assembly includes a member mounted on said intermediate support assembly and extending transversely of said trackway and having a curved track,

and rollers mounted on said upper crane assembly to ride in said track.

4. A crane assembly for use in positioning track beam sections on the tops of spaced pylons to form an extension of -an existing elevated trackway comprising, truck means constructed to ride on said trackway, an elongated crane structure extending along a substantial portion of said existing trackway, means mounting said crane structure on said truck means for tilting movement about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said trackway, a crab assembly mounted for movement along said crane structure for 'lifting and carrying said track beam sections', and means operably connected to said truck means and said crane structure for moving said crane structure about its tilting axis.

5. The crane according to claim 4 wherein said crane structure includes a first section mounted on said truck means and a second section mounted on one end of said first section for horizontal swinging movement with respect lto said irst section, each of said sections comprising beams extending longitudinally of said trackway, said beams 'being horizontally spaced vapart a distance greater than 'the width of said beam sections, the beams of said second section forming an extension of the beams of said rst section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,526 Bailey July 4, 1916 1,267,727 Wilson May 28, 1918 1,630,377 Deucher May 3l, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 65,714 France Nov. 9, 1955 (9E addition of 992,875) 680,569 France Jan. 22, 1930 992,875 France July 11, 1951 448,206 Germany Aug. l2, 1927 466,794 Italy Nov. 15, 1951 

